New York Natives

Awl-fruited Oval Sedge, also called Blunt Broom Sedge, is a native of North American wet lowlands. Its pale green blades and July seed spikes give it a lighter look than many other sedges. Moth, skipper, and butterfly larvae use sedge foliage, and waterfowl and songbirds eat the seeds. Plant in sun or partial shade in moist to wet soil.

Eastern Star Sedge was formerly called Straight-Styled Wood Sedge, a name referring to the shape of its female flower styles. This eastern North American woodland sedge forms fine green clumps with star-like fruiting heads that arch as they ripen. The foliage provides low cover for woodland insects and other small wildlife. Give it partial to full shade and soil that stays evenly moist.

Blue Joint Grass is a widespread North American wetland grass with a long natural role in streamside and meadow plant communities. Pink-green summer seed heads rise above rhizomes that help hold damp soil in place. Its dense growth offers cover for wetland insects and birds, and it can spread quickly across restoration sites. Give it full sun to partial shade and moist to wet ground.

Nodding Bur Marigold is a native annual of North American wet meadows and marsh edges. Its old names Beggar's Tick and Sticktight recall the hooked seeds that cling to passing animals. Golden, sunflower-like flowers feed bees, butterflies, skippers, and moths; later, ducks and songbirds eat the seeds. Plant in full sun and wet to moist ground, where it can reseed naturally.

Mud Plantain is an emergent native of North American pond margins, marshes, and other shallow, quiet water. Its roots were historically used as food and in traditional remedies, a record of the plant's long relationship with wetland communities. White summer flowers rise above broad leaves, and the plant provides food and cover for waterfowl, fish, and amphibians. Choose a sunny, consistently wet site or a naturalized water garden.

Elm-leaved Goldenrod (Solidago ulmifolia) is a distinctive North American native plant. Arching sprays of yellow flowers appear from midsummer into fall above elm-like leaves, bringing late nectar to woodland edges. It matures at approximately 36 inches tall and flowers from early to mid summer through mid to late summer through early to mid fall. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in dry-medium to medium conditions, with loamy soil or sandy soil. Space plants 18–24 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Bog Goldenrod (Solidago uliginosa) is a distinctive North American native plant. Sturdy stems and yellow flower clusters suit boggy ground, rain gardens, and other consistently moist native landscapes. It matures at approximately 48 inches tall and flowers from mid to late summer through early to mid fall. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in medium through wet conditions, with loamy soil or wet soil. Space plants 18–24 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium) is a distinctive North American native plant. Narrow foliage gives this aromatic mountain mint an airy texture, while its white flower clusters support diverse beneficial insects. It matures at approximately 24 inches tall and flowers from late spring to early summer through early to mid summer through mid to late summer. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in dry-medium through medium-wet conditions, with loamy soil or sandy soil. Space plants 18–24 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Great St. John's Wort (Hypericum pyramidatum) is a distinctive North American native plant. Large yellow flowers top tall stems in midsummer, and spreading rhizomes help establish substantial colonies in moist sites. It matures at approximately 72 inches tall and flowers from early to mid summer through mid to late summer. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in medium to medium-wet conditions, with loamy soil or clay soil. Space plants 24–36 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Tall Sunflower (Helianthus giganteus) is a distinctive North American native plant. Clusters of yellow flowers crown tall purplish stems, creating late-season color and abundant food for pollinators and birds. It matures at approximately 96 inches tall and flowers from early to mid summer through mid to late summer through early to mid fall. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in medium to medium-wet conditions, with loamy soil, clay soil or sandy soil. Space plants 36–48 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Shrubby St. John's Wort (Hypericum prolificum) is a distinctive North American native plant. This well-behaved native shrub forms a rounded habit and covers itself with bright yellow flowers that are especially attractive to bumblebees. It matures at approximately 48 inches tall and flowers from early to mid summer through mid to late summer. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in dry-medium through medium-wet conditions, with loamy soil, clay soil, sandy soil or poor soil. Space plants 36–48 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Early Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) is a short-lived native perennial with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers from early summer into early fall. Upright clumps reach about 5 feet tall and support bees, butterflies, and seed-eating birds. Plants perform best in full sun and tolerate loam, clay, or sandy soils with medium moisture. Seed requires 30 days of cold, moist stratification before germination.

Wild Golden Glow (Rudbeckia laciniata) is a tall native perennial with bright yellow flowers that bloom from midsummer into fall. Plants reach about 7 feet and spread by rhizomes, making them well suited to moist naturalized gardens, woodland edges, and rain-garden plantings. The flowers support bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, while mature seed heads provide food for birds. Seed requires 30 days of cold, moist stratification and should be surface sown.

Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii) is a native perennial with golden-orange flowers and a compact, mounding habit. Plants reach about 3 feet and bloom from midsummer into early fall in full sun or partial shade. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, and the mature seed heads provide food for birds. Seed requires 60 days of cold, moist stratification and should be surface sown.

Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) is a North American native perennial that sends up graceful spikes of white, bell-shaped flowers with a soft pink blush. The upright blooms brighten prairie gardens, rain gardens and naturalized borders from late spring into early summer. Plants establish into durable clumps that tolerate a range of soils when drainage is adequate. The nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Allegheny Monkeyflower (Mimulus ringens) is a moisture-loving native perennial with violet-blue, snapdragon-like flowers. It thrives along pond margins, in wet meadows, and in rain gardens where soil stays consistently moist. The upright plants bloom through summer and provide nectar for bees and other pollinators. Mature flowering stems typically reach about 18 to 24 inches tall.

Carex comosa is a large tufted wetland sedge. The narrow leaves are lime green and shiny. In late spring triangular culms rise above the foliage to 5’ bearing large chartreuse bottlebrush shaped spikes. Attractive warm brown seed spikes follow. This bold sedge flourishes in sun or part sun in damp or wet sites. Plants prosper in difficult wet mucky soils or even in shallow water.

Also know as Bush Bluestem, this perennial grass is a tufting, sturdy, warm-season grass that will grow up to 4'. The foliage has a reddish tint. Interesting, beard-like flowers appear in fall. This plant prefers moist to damp sites and is not drought tolerant.

A special mix of flowers that grab everyone's attention. The species in this mix are native to or naturalized to the Northeast US, east of Ohio and north of North Carolina.

Northeast Native Grass Mix balances warm- and cool-season grasses for a resilient regional meadow. Upright blades and distinctive seed heads mature between two and four feet, creating movement without overwhelming companion wildflowers. The blend spans sun-loving prairie grasses and adaptable wildryes for extended seasonal growth. Established stands provide cover, seed, and nesting structure for wildlife.

Wild quinine carries pearly white button-like flower heads above coarse gray-green foliage for much of summer. The rigid stems hold their shape beautifully in prairie gardens, pollinator borders, and dried arrangements. A deep root system helps established plants perform through heat and dry spells.

White snakeroot brings clouds of bright white flowers to shaded edges when many woodland plants have finished blooming. It adapts to clay and moist soil, forming upright clumps that supply late nectar for insects. All plant parts contain toxic compounds, so place it thoughtfully around livestock and pets.

Cup plant is a towering prairie perennial whose joined leaves form small basins around the stems. Those natural cups collect rainwater that birds and insects may use, while yellow flowers provide a generous summer nectar source. Give it a spacious site with sun and dependable moisture where its colony-forming habit can shine.

Late Figwort, also called Maryland Figwort, is an eastern and central North American perennial whose genus name recalls its long history in herbal use. Tall square stems carry small reddish-green, nectar-rich flowers from midsummer into fall. Native bees, wasps, butterflies, and hummingbirds visit the blooms, while birds use the plant for food and shelter. Grow it in loamy or sandy soil from full sun to shade after 60 days of cold, moist stratification, and surface sow the tiny seeds.

Water Horehound is native to nearly all of the contiguous United States and has long occupied open marshes, fens, and wet meadows. Although it belongs to the mint family, its foliage lacks the strong mint scent; small white flowers sit in the leaf axils. Those flowers can serve small pollinating insects, while the stems add cover in wetland habitat. Give it sun or partial shade and moist to wet soil.

Rice Cut Grass has a wide history across world wetlands and is native to North American floodplains and pond margins. Its sharp-edged leaves explain the common name and can form dense stands. Least Skipper larvae use the grass, adults feed in its habitat, and waterfowl eat the seed. Plant in sun or partial shade on wet, preferably silty soil.

Torrey's Rush is a North American wetland perennial with round flower clusters near the tops of slender stems. Its named species has long occupied marshes, wet prairies, and pond or river margins. Fast-spreading rhizomes help stabilize shorelines and create cover for wetland insects and small animals. Give it full sun and consistently moist soil.

Fowl Manna Grass is one of North America's most widespread wetland grasses, occurring from shaded woodland pools to open marshes. Its airy panicles and soft foliage provide cover for small animals. Geese graze the leaves, and the moth Elachista irrorata uses it as a host plant. Grow it in sun or shade on moist to wet soil.

Bottle Gentian is a slow-growing North American perennial whose closed blue flowers have earned the older name Closed Bottle Gentian. Bumblebees are strong enough to push into the late-season blossoms and are its principal pollinators. The long-lived plants bring color to wet meadows when many summer flowers have faded. Grow in sun to partial shade and medium to moist soil.

Silky Wild Rye is a native grass of eastern North American deciduous woods, where its nodding, bristly heads rise above the understory. Like other Elymus grasses, it grows most strongly in cool spring and fall weather and may be relatively short lived. Its stems give woodland birds and insects cover, and the grain can add forage for seed eaters. Plant in partial or full shade with medium moisture.

Riverbank Wild Rye is native to the eastern United States and has long occupied streambanks and other riparian corridors. Its roots help hold soil, making it useful in modern erosion-control plantings. Songbirds and waterfowl use the stems for cover and nesting material and feed among the seeds. Give this cool-season grass partial shade and medium to wet soil.